U.S. patent application number 13/297935 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-31 for traffic-related information dictionary creating device, traffic-related information dictionary creating method, and traffic-related information dictionary creating program.
This patent application is currently assigned to AISIN AW CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ryuya MURAMATSU, Hirokazu NOMOTO, Hideo YAMADA.
Application Number | 20120136560 13/297935 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45346226 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120136560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MURAMATSU; Ryuya ; et
al. |
May 31, 2012 |
TRAFFIC-RELATED INFORMATION DICTIONARY CREATING DEVICE,
TRAFFIC-RELATED INFORMATION DICTIONARY CREATING METHOD, AND
TRAFFIC-RELATED INFORMATION DICTIONARY CREATING PROGRAM
Abstract
Devices, methods, and programs acquire provided information and
position information that corresponds to the provided information
from a provided information storage unit. The provided information
has been provided to the provided information storage unit by an
information provider and stored in the provided information unit
with the position information. The position information specifies a
position at which the provided information was provided by the
information provider. The devices, methods, and programs acquire
traffic-related information from a traffic-related information
distribution unit. The traffic-related information includes
information that specifies an occurring traffic-related event and
information that specifies a range of the occurring traffic-related
event. Based on the acquired position information and the acquired
traffic-related information, the devices, methods, and programs
identify the provided information that is provided within the range
of the occurring traffic-related event, and associate and store a
phrase included in the identified provided information with the
occurring traffic-related event.
Inventors: |
MURAMATSU; Ryuya; (Okazaki,
JP) ; NOMOTO; Hirokazu; (Toyokawa, JP) ;
YAMADA; Hideo; (Okazaki, JP) |
Assignee: |
AISIN AW CO., LTD.
Anjo-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
45346226 |
Appl. No.: |
13/297935 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/0133
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/117 |
International
Class: |
G08G 1/00 20060101
G08G001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2010 |
JP |
2010-267810 |
Claims
1. A traffic-related information dictionary creating device that is
communicably connectable through a network to a provided
information storage unit and a traffic-related information
distribution unit, the traffic-related information dictionary
creating device comprising: a traffic-related information phrase
storage unit; and a controller that: acquires provided information
and position information that corresponds to the provided
information from the provided information storage unit, the
provided information having been provided to the provided
information storage unit by an information provider and stored in
the provided information unit with the position information, the
position information specifying a position at which the provided
information was provided by the information provider; acquires
traffic-related information from the traffic-related information
distribution unit, the traffic-related information including
information that specifies an occurring traffic-related event and
information that specifies a range of the occurring traffic-related
event; based on the acquired position information and the acquired
traffic-related information, identifies the provided information
that is provided within the range of the occurring traffic-related
event; associates a phrase included in the identified provided
information with the occurring traffic-related event; and stores
the associated phrase and the occurring traffic-related event in
the traffic-related information phrase storage unit.
2. The traffic-related information dictionary creating device
according to claim 1, wherein the controller: determines whether to
store the associated phrase in the traffic-related information
phrase storage unit based on a cumulative number of times the same
phrase is included in the provided information that is provided
within the specified range of the same type of occurring
traffic-related event.
3. The traffic-related information dictionary creating device
according to claim 1, wherein: provider identifying information
that uniquely identifies the information provider is associated
with the provided information in the provided information storage
unit; and the controller: acquires the provider identifying
information from the provided information storage unit; associates
the associated phrase with the acquired provider identifying
information; and stores the associated phrase and the provider
identifying information in the traffic-related information phrase
storage unit.
4. The traffic-related information dictionary creating device
according to claim 1, wherein the controller: based on the acquired
position information, associates the associated phrase with an area
that includes the position at which the provided information was
provided; and stores the associated phrase and the area in the
traffic-related information phrase storage unit.
5. A traffic-related information dictionary creating method
comprising: acquiring provided information and position information
that corresponds to the provided information from a provided
information storage unit, the provided information having been
provided to the provided information storage unit by an information
provider and stored in the provided information unit with the
position information, the position information specifying a
position at which the provided information was provided by the
information provider; acquiring traffic-related information from a
traffic-related information distribution unit, the traffic-related
information including information that specifies an occurring
traffic-related event and information that specifies a range of the
occurring traffic-related event; based on the acquired position
information and the acquired traffic-related information,
identifying the provided information that is provided within the
range of the occurring traffic-related event; associating a phrase
included in the identified provided information with the occurring
traffic-related event; and storing the associated phrase and the
occurring traffic-related event in the traffic-related information
phrase storage unit.
6. The traffic-related information dictionary creating method
according to claim 5, further comprising: determining whether to
store the associated phrase in the traffic-related information
phrase storage unit based on a cumulative number of times the same
phrase is included in the provided information that is provided
within the specified range of the same type of occurring
traffic-related event.
7. The traffic-related information dictionary creating method
according to claim 5, wherein: provider identifying information
that uniquely identifies the information provider is associated
with the provided information in the provided information storage
unit; and the method further comprises: acquiring the provider
identifying information from the provided information storage unit;
associating the associated phrase with the acquired provider
identifying information; and storing the associated phrase and the
provider identifying information in the traffic-related information
phrase storage unit.
8. The traffic-related information dictionary creating method
according to claim 5, further comprising: based on the acquired
position information, associating the associated phrase with an
area that includes the position at which the provided information
was provided; and storing the associated phrase and the area in the
traffic-related information phrase storage unit.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer-executable traffic-related information dictionary creating
program, the program comprising: instructions for acquiring
provided information and position information that corresponds to
the provided information from a provided information storage unit,
the provided information having been provided to the provided
information storage unit by an information provider and stored in
the provided information unit with the position information, the
position information specifying a position at which the provided
information was provided by the information provider; instructions
for acquiring traffic-related information from a traffic-related
information distribution unit, the traffic-related information
including information that specifies an occurring traffic-related
event and information that specifies a range of the occurring
traffic-related event; instructions for, based on the acquired
position information and the acquired traffic-related information,
identifying the provided information that is provided within the
range of the occurring traffic-related event; instructions for
associating a phrase included in the identified provided
information with the occurring traffic-related event; and
instructions for storing the associated phrase and the occurring
traffic-related event in the traffic-related information phrase
storage unit,
10. The storage medium according to claim 5, the program further
comprising: instructions for determining whether to store the
associated phrase in the traffic-related information phrase storage
unit based on a cumulative number of times the same phrase is
included in the provided information that is provided within the
specified range of the same type of occurring traffic-related
event.
11. The storage medium according to claim 5, wherein: provider
identifying information that uniquely identifies the information
provider is associated with the provided information in the
provided information storage unit; and the program further
comprises: instructions for acquiring the provider identifying
information from the provided information storage unit;
instructions for associating the associated phrase with the
acquired provider identifying information; and instructions for
storing the associated phrase and the provider identifying
information in the traffic-related information phrase storage
unit.
12. The storage medium according to claim 5, the program further
comprising: instructions for, based on the acquired position
information, associating the associated phrase with an area that
includes the position at which the provided information was
provided; and instructions for storing the associated phrase and
the area in the traffic-related information phrase storage unit.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2010-267810, filed on Nov. 30, 2010, including the specification,
drawings, and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Related Technical Fields
[0003] Related technical fields include traffic-related information
dictionary creating devices, traffic-related information dictionary
creating methods, and traffic-related information dictionary
creating programs.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] According to related art, prescribed words included in a
sentence are extracted and registered to a dictionary. For example,
a word registration system has been proposed in which at least part
of word data not registered in a user dictionary among word data
received from a word data receiving unit is added and registered to
the user dictionary. According to this word registration system,
word data in which a word "reading" and corresponding kanji
(Chinese characters) are pre-associated is received from a website
through the internet. If the received word data is not registered
in the user dictionary, the word data is added and registered in
the user dictionary (see Japanese Patent Application Publication
No. JP-A-2002-99531, for example).
SUMMARY
[0006] A traffic-related information dictionary can be created by
associating traffic-related events and phrases that express such
traffic-related events, and registering the associated
traffic-related events and phrases. The traffic-related events
include traffic congestion, traffic restrictions, road work,
accidents, public events, weather, road slipperiness, space
availability in parking lots, status of train delays, and the like.
However, if a system according to related art as described above is
used to register phrases in the traffic-related information
dictionary, unless data that pre-associates the phrases with the
corresponding traffic-related events is used, the phrases cannot be
registered in the dictionary. Thus, phrases that are not
pre-associated with traffic-related events because such phrases are
not generally used to express traffic-related events (e.g., phrases
used only in a particular region or phrases used only by a
particular user) cannot be registered in the dictionary as
associated with such traffic-related events.
[0007] Exemplary implementations of the broad inventive principles
described herein provide a traffic-related information dictionary
creating device, a traffic-related information dictionary creating
method, and a traffic-related information dictionary creating
program, which can register a phrase not generally used to express
a traffic-related event as a phrase expressing such a
traffic-related event in a traffic-related information
dictionary.
[0008] According to exemplary implementations, based on position
information acquired by a provided information acquisition unit and
traffic-related information acquired by a traffic-related
information acquisition unit, the provided information that is
provided within a range of an occurring traffic-related event is
specified. At least part of a phrase included in the specified
provided information is associated with the occurring
traffic-related event, and the associated at least partial phrase
and traffic-related event are stored in a traffic-related
information phrase storage unit. Therefore, even a phrase not
generally used as a phrase to express a traffic-related event can
be stored in the traffic-related information phrase storage unit as
a phrase that expresses that particular traffic-related event.
[0009] According to exemplary implementations, a traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit determines whether to
store the phrase in the traffic-related information phrase storage
unit based on a cumulative number of times the same phrase is
included in the provided information that is provided within the
range of the same type of occurring traffic-related event.
Therefore, only a phrase used to a certain extent for the same type
of traffic-related event can be stored in the traffic-related
information phrase storage unit, which increases the reliability of
the traffic-related information phrase storage unit.
[0010] According to exemplary implementations, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit associates the phrase
included in the provided information that is provided within the
range of the occurring traffic-related event with provider
identifying information that corresponds to the provided
information including the phrase, and stores the associated phrase
and provider identifying information in the traffic-related
information phrase storage unit. Therefore, a phrase used only by a
prescribed information provider and not generally used as a phrase
that expresses the traffic-related event can also be stored in the
traffic-related information phrase storage unit as an information
provider-specific phrase that expresses the traffic-related
event.
[0011] According to exemplary implementations, based on the
position information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit associates the phrase included in the provided
information that is provided within the range of the occurring
traffic-related event with an area that includes the position at
which the provided information including the phrase is provided,
and stores the associated phrase and area in the traffic-related
information phrase storage unit. Therefore, a phrase used only in a
prescribed area and not generally used as a phrase that expresses
the traffic-related event can also be stored in the traffic-related
information phrase storage unit as an area-specific phrase that
expresses the traffic-related event.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a traffic-related
information dictionary creating device according to an example;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a table that illustrates information stored in a
keyword dictionary;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a table that illustrates information stored in a
user dictionary for an information provider "AA";
[0015] FIG. 4 is a table that illustrates information stored in an
area dictionary for an area "AC district" of a given range;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a table that illustrates information stored in a
traffic-related information dictionary;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a keyword dictionary registration
algorithm;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a table that illustrates provided information that
is uploaded from a terminal to a provided information public server
and stored in the provided information public server;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a classification algorithm; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a traffic-related information
dictionary registration algorithm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONS
[0021] Hereinafter, an example of a traffic-related information
dictionary creating device, a traffic-related information
dictionary creating method, and a traffic-related information
dictionary creating program will be described in detail with
reference to the drawings.
I. Constitution
[0022] First, the constitution of the traffic-related information
dictionary creating device according to the example will be
described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the
traffic-related information dictionary creating device according to
the present example. As shown in FIG. 1, a traffic-related
information dictionary creating device 1 is connected in a
communicable manner through a network 2 to a provided information
public server 3 and a traffic-related information distribution
server 4.
[0023] The provided information public server 3 is a provided
information storage unit that associates provided information from
an information provider with position information that specifies a
position at which the provided information is provided, and stores
the associated provided information and position information. The
specific content of the provided information public server 3 may
take on any form, for example, a Social Networking Service (SNS)
server or a server that hosts various blog sites may be used. A
terminal (not shown in the drawing) is connected through the
network 2 to the provided information public server 3. The provided
information is uploaded in a text format by the information
provider from the terminal to the provided information public
server 3, and the provided information is readably stored in the
provided information public server 3.
[0024] The traffic-related information distribution server 4 is a
traffic-related information distribution unit that distributes
traffic-related information. The traffic-related information
includes information that specifies traffic-related events (e.g.,
traffic congestion, traffic restrictions, road work, accidents,
public events, weather, road slipperiness, space availability in
parking lots, and status of train delays), and information that
specifies a range of the occurring traffic-related events. As the
traffic-related information distribution server 4, for example, a
distribution server that distributes the traffic-related
information through FM multiplex broadcasting, beacons, or the like
in the Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) may be
used. Note that the traffic-related information distribution server
4 acquires the traffic-related information based on information
provided by the police, road administrators, various public
transportation administrators and the like, and probe information
gathered from vehicles.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the traffic-related information
dictionary creating device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a
controller (e.g., control unit 20), and a data storage unit 30.
[0026] A. Communication Unit
[0027] The communication unit 10 communicates through the network 2
with the provided information public server 3 and the
traffic-related information distribution server 4. A known
communication device may be used as the communication unit 10.
[0028] B. Control Unit
[0029] The control unit 20 controls the traffic-related information
dictionary creating device 1. Specifically, the control unit 20 is
a computer configured to include a CPU, various programs that are
interpreted and executed in the CPU (including an OS and other
basic control programs, and application programs that are activated
in the OS to carry out specific functions), and an internal memory
such as a RAM and ROM for storing the programs and various data. In
particular, the traffic-related information dictionary creating
program according to the present example is installed in the
traffic-related information dictionary creating device 1 through
any storage medium or the network 2, and configures various
portions of the control unit 20 in substance.
[0030] The control unit 20 includes a provided information
acquisition unit 21, a traffic-related information acquisition unit
22, and a traffic-related information dictionary registration unit
23 in terms of functional concept. The provided information
acquisition unit 21 acquires the provided information and the
position information that corresponds to the provided information
from the provided information public server 3. The traffic-related
information acquisition unit 22 acquires the traffic-related
information from the traffic-related information distribution
server 4. The traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 registers prescribed phrases in a traffic-related
information dictionary. The processes executed by the various
portions of the control unit 20 will be described in detail
later.
[0031] C. Data Storage Unit
[0032] The data storage unit 30 is a storage unit that stores
programs and various data required for operation of the
traffic-related information dictionary creating device 1, and has a
configuration that uses a magnetic storage medium such as a hard
disk (not shown) as an external memory device, for example.
However, any other storage mediums, including a semiconductor
storage medium such as a flash memory or an optical storage medium
such as a DVD or Blu-ray disc, can be used in place of or in
combination with the hard disk.
[0033] The data storage unit 30 includes a keyword dictionary 31, a
user dictionary 32, an area dictionary 33, and a traffic-related
information dictionary 34.
[0034] The keyword dictionary 31 is a storage unit that stores
phrases included in the provided information acquired by the
provided information acquisition unit 21 from the provided
information public server 3, FIG. 2 is a table that illustrates
information stored in the keyword dictionary 31. As shown in FIG.
2, information that corresponds to the table item of Phrase,
information that corresponds to the table item of Event, and
information that corresponds to the table item of Total Usage are
associated with each other and stored in the keyword dictionary 31.
Information stored as corresponding to the Phrase item is a phrase
included in the provided information acquired by the provided
information acquisition unit 21 from the provided information
public server 3 (e.g., "traffic congestion" and "jammed" in FIG.
2). Information stored as corresponding to the Event item specifies
traffic-related events occurring at the position at which the
provided information that includes the corresponding phrase is
provided ("traffic congestion" in FIG. 2). Information stored as
corresponding to the Total Usage item specifies the cumulative
number of times the same phrase is included in the provided
information that is provided within the range of the same type of
occurring traffic-related event (e.g., "532" as the cumulative
number of times the same phrase "traffic congestion" is included in
the provided information that is provided within the range of the
same type of occurring traffic-related event of "traffic
congestion" in FIG. 2).
[0035] The user dictionary 32 is a storage unit that stores, per
information provider of the provided information, phrases included
in the provided information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit 21 from the provided information public server 3.
FIG. 3 is a table that illustrates information stored in the user
dictionary 32 for an information provider "AA." As shown in FIG. 3,
information that corresponds to the table item of Phrase and
information that corresponds to the table item of User Usage are
associated with each other and stored in the user dictionary 32.
Information stored as corresponding to the Phrase item is a phrase
included in the provided information from an information provider
that corresponds to the user dictionary 32, among the provided
information acquired by the provided information acquisition unit
21 from the provided information public server 3 (e.g., "traffic
congestion" and "jammed" in FIG. 3). Information stored as
corresponding to the User Usage item specifies the number of times
a corresponding phrase is included in the provided information from
the information provider that corresponds to the user dictionary 32
(e.g., "30" for the phrase "traffic congestion" in FIG. 3).
[0036] The area dictionary 33 is a storage unit that stores, per
area that includes the position at which the provided information
is provided, phrases included in the provided information acquired
by the provided information acquisition unit 21 from the provided
information public server 3. Here, "area" is a concept that
indicates, for example, a region of a given range such as an "AC
district" or a zone that is delineated by any sort of boundary,
including a given road section such as "from DB interchange to CA
interchange" or the like. In the following description, a region of
a given range will be used as an example. FIG. 4 is a table that
illustrates information stored in the area dictionary 33 for the
area "AC district" of a given range. As shown in FIG. 4,
information that corresponds to the table item of Phrase and
information that corresponds to the table item of Area Usage are
associated with each other and stored in the area dictionary 33.
Information stored as corresponding to the Phrase item is a phrase
included in the provided information that is provided from a
position included in an area that corresponds to the area
dictionary 33 ("AC district" in the example of FIG. 4), among the
provided information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit 21 from the provided information public server 3
(e.g., "traffic congestion" and "jammed" in FIG. 4). Information
stored as corresponding to the Area Usage item specifies the number
of times a corresponding phrase is included in the provided
information that is provided from the position included in the area
that corresponds to the area dictionary 33 (e.g., "145" for the
phrase "traffic congestion" in FIG. 4). Note that information for
specifying a range of an area that corresponds to the area
dictionary 33 is added to each area dictionary 33 (e.g.,
coordinates for specifying the boundaries of the relevant
area).
[0037] The traffic-related information dictionary 34 is a
traffic-related information phrase storage unit that stores a
phrase and a traffic-related event as associated with each other.
FIG. 5 is a table that illustrates information stored in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34. As shown in FIG. 5,
information that corresponds to the table item of Phrase,
information that corresponds to the table item of Event, and
information that corresponds to the table item of Class are
associated with each other and stored in the traffic-related
information dictionary 34. Information stored as corresponding to
the Phrase item is at least part of a phrase included in the
provided information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit 21 from the provided information public server 3
(e.g., "traffic congestion" and "jammed" in FIG. 5). Information
stored as corresponding to the Event item specifies traffic-related
events occurring at the position at which the provided information
that includes the corresponding phrase is provided ("traffic
congestion" in FIG. 5). Information stored as corresponding to the
Class item specifies the class of the corresponding phrase.
Information that specifies a phrase generally used to express the
corresponding traffic-related event ("all areas" in FIG. 5),
provider identifying information that uniquely identifies the
information provider of the provided information that includes the
corresponding phrase ("AA" in FIG. 5), or information that
specifies the area that includes the position at which the provided
information that includes the corresponding phrase is provided ("AC
district") is stored,
[0038] The timing at which various information is stored in the
keyword dictionary 31, the user dictionary 32, the area dictionary
33, and the traffic-related information dictionary 34, and the
source of the various information acquired will be described in
detail later.
II. Processing
[0039] Next, an exemplary traffic-related information dictionary
creating method will be described with respect to the algorithms
shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9. The method may be implemented in the
from of a computer program that is stored in RAM and/or ROM and
executable by the control unit 20. Although the structure of the
above-described traffic-related information dictionary creating
device 1 is referenced in the description of the method, the
reference to such structure is exemplary, and the method need not
be limited by the specific structure of the above-described
traffic-related information dictionary creating device 1.
[0040] A. Keyword Dictionary Registration Process
[0041] First, the keyword dictionary registration process will be
described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the keyword dictionary
registration process (steps in the following description of each
process are abbreviated as "S"). The keyword dictionary
registration process is repeatedly initiated in a predetermined
cycle after the traffic-related information dictionary creating
device 1 is powered on, for example.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 6, after starting up the keyword dictionary
registration process, the provided information acquisition unit 21
acquires from the provided information public server 3 the provided
information, the position information that specifies the position
at which the provided information is provided, and the provider
identifying information that uniquely identifies the information
provider of the provided information (SA1).
[0043] FIG. 7 is a table that illustrates the provided information
that is uploaded from the terminal to the provided information
public server 3 and stored in the provided information public
server 3. As shown in FIG. 7, information that corresponds to the
User item, information that corresponds to the Provided Information
item, and information that corresponds to the Position Information
item are associated with each other and stored by the provided
information public server 3. Information that corresponds to the
User item is the provider identifying information that uniquely
identifies the information provider (e.g., "AA" in FIG. 7). A user
ID required by the provider to access the provided information
public server 3 from the terminal can be used as the provider
identifying information, for example. The user ID is transmitted
together with the provided information to the provided information
public server 3 when the provided information is uploaded from the
terminal to the provided information public server 3. Information
that corresponds to the Provided Information item is provided by
the information provider (e.g., "snail's pace!" in FIG. 7).
Information that corresponds to the Position Information item
specifies the position at which the provided information is
provided (e.g., "x1, y1" in FIG. 7). Coordinates that indicate the
current position of the specified terminal using GPS can be used as
the position information, for example. The coordinates are
transmitted together with the provided information to the provided
information public server 3 when the provided information is
uploaded from the terminal to the provided information public
server 3, Each time the above information is uploaded from the
terminal of each user to the provided information public server 3,
the information is released in turn to the public. The provided
information acquisition unit 21 acquires from the provided
information public server 3 the provided information released by
the provided information public server 3 during a period since the
previous execution of the processing at SA1 until the current
execution of the processing at SA1, as well as the provider
identifying information and the position information associated
with the provided information.
[0044] Returning to FIG. 6, based on the position information that
corresponds to the provided information, the provided information
acquisition unit 21 specifies the position at which the provided
information acquired by the provided information acquisition unit
21 at SA1 is provided and performs mapping on a map (SA2),
[0045] Next, the traffic-related information acquisition unit 22
acquires the traffic-related information from the traffic-related
information distribution server 4 (SA3). The traffic-related
information acquisition unit 22 acquires, through the communication
unit 10, the traffic-related information that corresponds to an
occurring traffic-related event during the period since the
previous execution of the processing at SA1 until the current
execution of the processing at SA1, which is the traffic-related
information distributed from the traffic-related information
distribution server 4, for example.
[0046] Next, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 specifies the provided information that is
provided within the range of the occurring traffic-related event,
based on the position information acquired by the provided
information acquisition unit 21 at SA1 and the traffic-related
information acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition
unit 22 at SA3 (SA4).
[0047] Specifically, among the information included in the
traffic-related information acquired by the traffic-related
information acquisition unit 22 at SA3, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 specifies the range in
which the traffic-related event is occurring based on the
information that specifies the range of the occurring
traffic-related event. Here, the "information that specifies the
range of the occurring traffic-related event" is link data included
in map information used by a known navigation system, for example,
and is configured using the link data that corresponds to a section
in which the traffic-related event is occurring. The
traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23
specifies the provided information that is provided within the
range of the occurring traffic-related event by comparing the range
in which the specified traffic-related occurred and the positions
mapped on the map by the provided information acquisition unit 21
at SA2 (positions at which the provided information acquired by the
provided information acquisition unit 21 at SA1 is provided). At
such time, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 associates the traffic-related event and the provided
information that is provided within the range of the occurring
traffic-related event with each other, and stores the associated
traffic-related event and provided information in the RAM or the
like.
[0048] Following the processing at SA4, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 executes, for each
piece of provided information that was specified in the processing
at SA4 as provided within the range of the occurring
traffic-related event, a classification process for classifying a
phrase included in the provided information (SA5). Following the
processing at SA5, the control unit 20 ends the keyword dictionary
registration process.
[0049] B. Classification Process
[0050] Here, the classification process will be described. FIG. 8
is a flowchart of the classification process. As shown in FIG. 8,
after the classification process is started up, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 extracts a phrase
included in the provided information that is provided within the
range of the occurring traffic-related event (SB1). For example,
using a known language processing technique such as a morphological
analysis, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 extracts self-sufficient words such as verbs, adjectives,
and nouns among the phase included in the provided information.
[0051] Next, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 determines whether the phrase extracted at SB1
is stored in the keyword dictionary 31 as associated with the
traffic-related event occurring at the position at which the
provided information including the phrase is provided (SB2). For
example, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 acquires the traffic-related event stored in the RAM at SA4
in FIG. 6 as associated with the provided information including the
phrase extracted at SB1, and determines whether the acquired
traffic-related event and the phrase extracted at SB1 are
associated with each other and stored in the keyword dictionary 31
shown in FIG. 2.
[0052] Returning to FIG. 8, if the determination result at SB2 is
that the phrase extracted at SB1 is stored in the keyword
dictionary 31 as associated with the traffic-related event
occurring at the position at which the provided information
including the phrase is provided (SB2: Yes), the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 adds one to the
information that corresponds to the Total Usage item, which is
stored as associated with the phrase in the keyword dictionary 31
shown in FIG. 2 (SB3). For example, if the phrase "traffic
congestion" is extracted at SB1 from the provided information that
is provided within the range of the occurring traffic-related event
"traffic congestion," one is added to the total usage of "532" that
is stored as associated with the phrase "traffic congestion" in the
keyword dictionary 31 of FIG. 2, such that the total usage becomes
"533."
[0053] Returning to FIG. 8, if the determination result at SB2 is
that the phrase extracted at SB1 is not stored in the keyword
dictionary 31 as associated with the traffic-related event
occurring at the position at which the provided information
including the phrase is provided (SB2: No), the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 registers the phrase
extracted at SB1 in the keyword dictionary 31 (SB4). That is, the
traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23 stores
the phrase extracted at SB1 in the keyword dictionary 31 as
associated with the traffic-related event occurring at the position
at which the provided information including the phrase is provided,
and stores "1" as the corresponding total usage.
[0054] Following the processing at SB3 or SB4, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 determines whether the
phrase extracted at SB1 is stored in the user dictionary 32 for the
information provider of the provided infoimation including the
phrase (SB5). For example, based on the provided information
including the phrase extracted at SB1 and the provider identifying
information acquired by the provided information acquisition unit
21 at SA1, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 specifies the information provider of the provided
information including the phrase extracted at SB1, and determines
whether the phrase extracted at SB1 is stored in the user
dictionary 32 for the specified information provider.
[0055] Accordingly, if the phrase extracted at S131 is stored in
the user dictionary 32 for the information provider of the provided
information including the phrase (SB5: Yes), the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 adds one to the
information that corresponds to the User Usage item, which is
stored as associated with the phrase in the user dictionary 32
shown in FIG, 3 (SB6). For example, if the phrase "traffic
congestion" is extracted at SB1 from the provided information from
the information provider "AA," one is added to the user usage of
"30" that is stored as associated with the phrase "traffic
congestion" in the user dictionary 32 of FIG. 3, such that the user
usage becomes "31."
[0056] Returning to FIG. 8, if the determination result at SB5 is
that the phrase extracted at SB1 is not stored in the user
dictionary 32 for the information provider of the provided
information including the phrase (SB5: No), the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 registers the phrase
extracted at SB1 in the user dictionary 32 for the information
provider (SB7). That is, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 stores the phrase extracted at SB1 in the user
dictionary 32 for the information provider, and stores "1" as the
corresponding user usage. Note that if there is no user dictionary
32 in the data storage unit 30 for the information provider of the
provided information including the phrase, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 newly provides the user
dictionary 32 for the information provider in the data storage unit
30, and registers the phrase extracted at SB1 in that particular
user dictionary 32.
[0057] Following the processing at SB6 or SB7, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 determines whether the
phrase extracted at SB1 is stored in the area dictionary 33 for the
area that includes the position at which the provided information
including the phrase is provided (SBS). For example, based on the
provided information including the phrase extracted at SB1 and the
position information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit 21 at SA1, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 specifies the position at which the
provided information including the phrase extracted at SB1 is
provided, and determines whether the phrase extracted at SB1 is
stored in the area dictionary 33 for the area that includes the
specified position. Note that, for example, whether the areas that
respectively correspond to the area dictionaries 33 are "the area
that includes the position at which the provided information is
provided" is determined by the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 based on information for specifying
the range of the area that corresponds to a particular area
dictionary 33 added to the area dictionaries 33.
[0058] Accordingly, if the phrase extracted at SB1 is stored in the
area dictionary 33 for the area that includes the position at which
the provided information including the phrase is provided (SB8:
Yes), the traffic-related information dictionary registration unit
23 adds one to the information that corresponds to the Area Usage
item, which is stored as associated with the phrase in the area
dictionary 33 shown in FIG. 4 (SB9). For example, if the phrase
"traffic congestion" is extracted at SB1 from the provided
information that is provided at the position included in the area
"AC district," one is added to the area usage of "145" that is
stored as associated with the phrase "traffic congestion" in the
area dictionary 33 of FIG. 4, such that the area usage becomes
"146."
[0059] Returning to FIG. 8, if the determination result at SB8 is
that the phrase extracted at SB1 is not stored in the area
dictionary 33 for the area that includes the position at which the
provided information including the phrase is provided (SB8: No),
the traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23
registers the phrase extracted at SB1 in the area dictionary 33 for
the area (SB10). That is, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 stores the phrase extracted at SB1
in the area dictionary 33 for the area, and stores "1" as the
corresponding area usage. Note that if there is no area dictionary
33 in the data storage unit 30 for the area that includes the
position at which the provided information including the phrase is
provided, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 newly provides the area dictionary 33 for the area in the
data storage unit 30, and registers the phrase extracted at SB1 in
that particular area dictionary 33.
[0060] Following the processing at SB9 or SB10, the control unit 20
ends the classification process and returns to the main
routine.
[0061] C. Traffic-Related Information Dictionary Registration
Process
[0062] Next, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration process will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of
the traffic-related information dictionary registration process.
After the traffic-related information dictionary creating device 1
is powered on, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration process is repeatedly initiated each time the keyword
dictionary registration process is executed a prescribed number of
times, for example.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 9, after the traffic-related information
dictionary registration process is started up, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 extracts a phrase not
stored in the traffic-related information dictionary 34 from among
the phrases stored in the keyword dictionary 31 (SC1).
[0064] Next, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 determines whether the cumulative number of
times the same phrase extracted at SC1 is included in the provided
information that is provided within the range of the same type of
occurring traffic-related event is equal to or greater than a
threshold (SC2). That is, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 refers to the keyword dictionary 31
illustrated in FIG. 2 to determine whether the Total Usage item
stored as associated with the phrase extracted at SC1 is equal to
or greater than the threshold. The threshold may be any specific
value, for example, a value of 10 may be used.
[0065] Accordingly, if the cumulative number of times the same
phrase extracted at SC1 is included in the provided information
that is provided within the range of the same type of occurring
traffic-related event is not equal to or greater than the threshold
(is less than the threshold) (SC2: No), the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 determines that the
phrase is not yet used enough to be registered in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34, and ends the
traffic-related information dictionary registration process.
[0066] However, if the cumulative number of times the same phrase
extracted at SC1 is included in the provided information that is
provided within the range of the same type of occurring
traffic-related event is equal to or greater than the threshold
(SC2: Yes), the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 determines that the phrase is used enough to be registered
in the traffic-related information dictionary 34, and determines
whether the number of information providers of the provided
information including the phrase is greater than one (SC3).
Specifically, if the number of user dictionaries 32 that store the
phrase extracted at SC1 is greater than one, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 determines that the
number of information providers of the provided information
including the phrase is greater than one.
[0067] Accordingly, if the number of information providers of the
provided information including the phrase extracted at SC1 is not
greater than one (SC3: No), that is, if the number of user
dictionaries 32 that store the phrase extracted at SC1 is one, the
traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23
classifies the phrase as a phrase unique to the information
provider of the provided information including the phrase (SC4). At
such time, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 stores the classification result in the RAM, for
example.
[0068] However, if it is determined at SC3 that the number of
information providers of the provided information including the
phrase extracted at SC1 is greater than one (SC3: Yes), that is, if
the number of user dictionaries 32 that store the phrase extracted
at SC1 is greater than one, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 determines whether the number of
areas that include the position at which the provided information
including the phrase is provided is greater than one (SC5).
Specifically, if the number of area dictionaries 33 that store the
phrase extracted at SC1 is greater than one, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 determines that the
number of areas that include the position at which the provided
information including the phrase is provided is greater than
one.
[0069] Accordingly, if the number of areas that include the
position at which the provided information including the phrase
extracted at SC1 is provided is not greater than one (SC5: No),
that is, if the number of area dictionaries 33 that store the
phrase extracted at SC1 is one, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 classifies the phrase as a phrase
unique to the area that includes the position at which the provided
information including the phrase is provided (SC6). At such time,
the traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23
stores the classification result in the RAM, for example.
[0070] However, if the number of areas that include the position at
which the provided information including the phrase extracted at
SC1 is provided is greater than one (SC5: Yes), that is, if the
number of area dictionaries 33 that store the phrase extracted at
SC1 is greater than one, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 determines that the extracted phrase is a
phrase generally used to express the traffic-related event that
corresponds to the extracted phrase, and classifies the extracted
phrase as a phrase of "all areas," which indicates a general phrase
(SC7). At such time, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 stores the classification result in the RAM,
for example.
[0071] Following the processing at SC4, SC6, or SC7, the
traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23 stores
the phrase extracted at SC1 in the traffic-related information
dictionary 34 in accordance with the classification result at SC4,
SC6, or SC7 (SC8). That is, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 stores information that specifies
the traffic-related event associated with the phrase extracted at
SC1 and stored in the keyword dictionary 31, and information that
corresponds to the classification result at SC4, SC6, or SC7.
[0072] For example, the phrase "traffic congestion" may be
extracted at SC1 from the keyword dictionary 31 illustrated in FIG.
2, and the classification of the phrase "traffic congestion" may be
designated as "all areas" at SC7. In such case, as shown in FIG. 5,
the traffic-related information dictionary registration unit 23
associates the phrase "traffic congestion" with the traffic-related
event "traffic congestion" stored in the keyword dictionary 31 as
associated with the phrase, and also with the classification "all
areas" indicative of the classification result at SC7, and stores
the associated phrase, event, and classification in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34.
[0073] Alternatively, the phrase "BA congestion" may be extracted
at SC1 from the keyword dictionary 31 illustrated in FIG. 2 (e.g.,
a phrase that refers to traffic congestion occurring near a
facility BA), and the classification of the phrase "BA congestion"
may be designated as "unique to the area that includes the position
at which the provided information including the phrase is provided"
at SC6. In such case, as shown in FIG, 5, the traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 associates the phrase
"BA congestion" with the traffic-related event "BA congestion"
stored in the keyword dictionary 31 as associated with the phrase,
and, as information that corresponds to the classification result
at SC7, with the classification "AC district" indicative of the
area that includes the position at which the provided information
including the phrase is provided. The traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 also stores the associated phrase,
event, and classification in the traffic-related information
dictionary 34. Thus, in addition to phrases generally used to
express the traffic-related event, phrases used only in a
prescribed area can also be registered in the traffic-related
information dictionary 34 as area-specific phrases that express the
traffic-related event.
[0074] As another example, the phrase "snail's pace" may be
extracted at SC1 from the keyword dictionary 31 illustrated in FIG.
2, and the classification of the phrase "snail's pace" may be
designated as "unique to the information provider of the provided
information including the phrase" at SC4. In such case, as shown in
FIG. 5, the traffic-related information dictionary registration
unit 23 associates the phrase "snail's pace" with the
traffic-related event "snail's pace" stored in the keyword
dictionary 31 as associated with the phrase, and, as information
that corresponds to the classification result at SC4, with the
classification "AA" indicative of the information provider of the
provided information including the phrase. The traffic-related
information dictionary registration unit 23 also stores the
associated phrase, event, and classification in the traffic-related
information dictionary 34. Thus, in addition to phrases generally
used to express the traffic-related event, phrases used only by a
prescribed information provider can also be registered in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34 as information
provider-specific phrases that express the traffic-related
event.
[0075] Following the processing at SC8, the control unit 20 ends
the traffic-related information dictionary registration
process.
III. Effects
[0076] According to the present example as described above, based
on the position information acquired by the provided information
acquisition unit 21 and the traffic-related information acquired by
the traffic-related information acquisition unit 22, the provided
information that is provided within the range of the occurring
traffic-related event is specified. In addition, at least part of a
phrase included in the specified provided information is associated
with the occurring traffic-related event, and the associated at
least partial phrase and traffic-related event are stored in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34. Therefore, even a phrase
not generally used as a phrase to express a traffic-related event
can be registered in the traffic-related information dictionary 34
as a phrase that expresses that particular traffic-related
event.
[0077] In addition, the traffic-related information dictionary
registration unit 23 determines whether to store the phrase in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34 based on the cumulative
number of times the same phrase is included in the provided
information that is provided within the range of the same type of
occurring traffic-related event. Therefore, only a phrase used to a
certain extent for the same type of traffic-related event can be
registered in the traffic-related information dictionary 34, which
increases the reliability of the traffic-related information
dictionary 34.
[0078] The traffic-related information dictionary registration unit
23 associates the phrase included in the provided information that
is provided within the range of the occurring traffic-related event
with the provider identifying information that corresponds to the
provided information including the phrase, and stores the
associated phrase and provider identifying information in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34. Therefore, a phrase used
only by a prescribed information provider and not generally used as
a phrase that expresses the traffic-related event can also be
registered in the traffic-related information dictionary 34 as an
information provider-specific phrase that expresses the
traffic-related event.
[0079] Based on the position information acquired by the provided
information acquisition unit 21, the traffic-related information
dictionary registration unit 23 associates the phrase included in
the provided information that is provided within the range of the
occurring traffic-related event with the area that includes the
position at which the provided information including the phrase is
provided, and stores the associated phrase and area in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34. Therefore, a phrase used
only in a prescribed area and not generally used as a phrase that
expresses the traffic-related event can also be registered in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34 as an area-specific
phrase that expresses the traffic-related event.
IV. Modifications
[0080] While various features have been described in conjunction
with the examples outlined above, various alternatives,
modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features
and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set
forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes,
including the examples discussed below, may be made without
departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying
inventive principles.
[0081] The problems to be solved by and the effects of the
inventive principles described herein are not limited to the
implementations described above and may vary depending on the
environment in which the principles are practiced and the detailed
configuration of the resulting implementations. The above problems
may be only partially solved, and the above effects only partially
achieved.
[0082] A. Traffic-Related Information Dictionary Creating
Device
[0083] Although a location at which to install the traffic-related
information dictionary creating device 1 is not specifically
mentioned in the example described above, the traffic-related
information dictionary creating device 1 may be mounted in a
vehicle as part of a car navigation device, or mounted in a
portable type of information terminal such as a smartphone, for
example.
[0084] B. Traffic-Related Events
[0085] In the example described above, as an example, the provided
information is provided within the range of the occurring traffic
congestion serving as the traffic-related event. However, the
relevant traffic-related events are not limited to traffic
congestion. Using the traffic-related information dictionary
creating device 1 similar to the above example, a phrase that
expresses the traffic-related event can be registered in the
traffic-related information dictionary 34 even when the provided
information is provided within the range of any other occurring
traffic-related event (e.g., traffic restrictions, road work,
accidents, public events, weather, road slipperiness, space
availability in parking lots, and status of train delays).
[0086] C. Position Information
[0087] In the example described above, as an example of the
position information that specifies the position at which the
provided information is provided, coordinates indicative of the
current position of the terminal specified using GPS are
transmitted from the terminal to the provided information public
server 3 together with the provided information. However, other
information may be used as the position information. For example,
as the position information, information intentionally added by the
information provider to the provided information in order to
indicate the position at which the provided information is provided
(e.g., a link to a webpage that displays a specific position on a
map) may be used, or information indicative of the position
included in the provided information itself (e.g., "BB" in the
provided information of "I am now at BB") may be specified using a
known language analysis technique and such information used as the
position information.
* * * * *